If you
thought that the industry no longer had any classics left to dust off, get
ready for a direct blow to nostalgia. The mythical story of The
Princess Knight (known in Japan as Ribbon no Kishi), the
masterpiece of the legendary Osamu Tezuka that laid the
foundations of the modern shoujo genre, will return to our
screens after 27 long years of absence. The official website has just released
the first trailer for The Ribbon Hero, a brand new anime film that
will have an exclusive world premiere through the Netflix catalog
on August 8.
To give
voice to one of the most iconic protagonists in the history of manga, the
production committee made a rather unusual but interesting decision. Instead of
going for a veteran voice actress, they decided to give the lead to a Japanese
entertainment star who will be making her big debut in an animated feature
film:
- Saya as Sapphire. Renowned
comedian of the duo LALANDE and talented vocalist of the band Raisan, who
will bring all her energy to this legendary leading role.
To make
sure that this anime film feels fresh but respects Tezuka's enormous legacy,
the project was left in the hands of director Yuuki Igarashi under
the animation of the Outline studio. The character designs
were adapted by Issei Arakaki (based on Kei Mochizuki's
original art), ensuring that the fantasy world looks spectacular for new
audiences.
But where
they really did not skimp was in the musical section. The soundtrack promises
to give us goosebumps, as it will be performed by Satoru Kousaki and Ryuuichi
Takada, members of the acclaimed group MONACA and responsible for the
masterful music in recent gems such as Kusuriya no Hitorigoto and Summertime
Render. With Netflix distributing the film globally on the same day of its
release, the otaku community around the world will be able to enjoy this work
without having to deal with annoying regional barriers.
Synopsis
of The Ribbon Hero (The Princess Knight)
The story
transports us to a fantasy realm where the law dictates that only a man can
inherit the throne. To prevent power from falling into the wrong hands of an
evil duke, the kings decide to hide a huge secret: their firstborn, Sapphire,
has been raised since birth as if she were a male prince. Possessing both the
brave heart of a boy and the gentle soul of a girl, young Sapphire must
navigate a dangerous double life, dealing with royal intrigues, thrilling
adventures with sword in hand, and her own personal conflicts. It's a journey
of bravery and discovery in a world full of magic and ruthless villains.
